Fill lazy summer days with reading, fun

Summer can be a season full of great times and happy memories, but did you know that kids may experience learning losses when they don’t read during the summer? There’s actually a name for it: the summer slide, and we don’t mean the one at the park!

How can parents help prevent this? By registering your child for the summer reading program at the Marion County Library!

Studies show that children who read four or more books over the summer do better on reading tests in the fall than those who don’t read during their vacation from school. When children participate in the library’s summer reading program, they can earn buttons, new books, and even a gold reading medal (at the 20-hour mark).

At the library, we encourage kids to read whatever they want and introduce them to many new titles and old favorites at the library. Plus, because our reading theme is “Be Creative @ Your Library,” we are creating art, making music, designing with Legos, and even writing poetry during our weekly programs.

We are extremely fortunate this year to have the help and creativity of David Oberst, an intern from Duke University, who not only is a computer genius, but also a very talented musician. He’s come up with some great ideas for our summer music programs.

A complete schedule of activities is available at any of our branches and also on the library website: http://www.marioncountylibrary.org.

Kids and teens can even audition for the “Library Idol” talent contest! The tryouts are at 10 a.m. on June 17 in the Marion Opera House and the performance day for everyone to watch will be at 10 a.m. on July 8, also in the Marion Opera House.

Generous donations from the Kiwanis Club of Marion County, Gore’s Tire Service, Professional Pharmacy of Marion, and Russell Stover Candy are helping us to provide prize books and other incentives to our participants, as well as helping us to purchase craft supplies for all of our activities.  If you, your business, or your organization would like to be a part of our program, please contact the library at 423-8300.